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The head judge on Strictly Come Dancing has revealed that he is upset over the decision that sent Phil Tufnell home from the BBC show on Saturday evening:

"I'm very depressed over Saturday night and being the one who decided that Phil had to leave.”

Phil and professional partner Katya Virshilas lost out in the dance-off to ex-EastEnders star Ricky Groves and Erin Boag in a show that was packed with injuries.

Presenter Bruce Forsyth missed the show for the first time ever because he was sick with flu and two of the celebrity dancers had injuries.

Jade Johnson missed the show because of problems with her knee, while actress Laila Roass couldn’t finish her performance because of pain in her ankle.

Len claimed that although he felt sorry for both of the injured celebrities, it should not have been Phil Tufnell in the bottom two. Laila Roass had finished bottom of the leader board with the judge’s scores.

He also referred to a few weeks earlier when Phil had danced very well even though he was suffering badly due to medical constraints.

The judge explained: "What I felt sorry about was that poor old Jade [Johnson] couldn't dance obviously because of her knee, Laila couldn't dance because of her ankle.”

He then added: “But if we go back two or three weeks, Phil was having an operation on his knee and still coming out and dancing, getting through the week.”

This week on Strictly Come Dancing, Dame Shirley Bassey, will be singing her heart out for the audience and the seven remaining couples have to perform either a latin or a ballroom dance.

Former England cricketer and TV presenter Phil Tufnell became the ninth celebrity to be voted off the seventh series of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing.

In week nine of the competition, seven of the remaining eight celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners took to the floor to perform a variety of dances.

In a dramatic turn of events long jumper and Olympic athlete Jade Johnson injured her knee earlier in dress rehearsal. Following doctor's orders a tearful Jade and her professional partner Ian Waite were out of the competition.

After Saturday's performance, the combination of the judges' scores and viewers' votes left Phil and his professional partner Katya Virshilas in the bottom two and facing the dance off with actor Ricky Groves and his professional partner Erin Boag.

Phil and Katya then performed their American Smooth to Come Fly With Me and Ricky and Erin performed their Viennese Waltz to Nights In White Satin for a second time for the judges' deciding vote.

Making their decision on who to save, the judges said:

Craig Revel Horwood: "Well it's a big old decision actually tonight, only because Phil and Katya did make a big old boo boo and for me I'm saving Ricky and Erin."

Alesha Dixon: "Based on this dance, the couple that I would like to keep is Phil and Katya."

Bruno Tonioli: "The couple I would like to save is Phil and Katya."

This left Len to cast his deciding vote.

Len Goodman: "Well it was a very, very tough call because they both have danced beautifully tonight and both upped their game. However, I've got to go for the one that gave the cleaner and the more precise performance and that's Ricky and Erin."

On Saturday's show Phil and Katya were awarded 31 points for their American Smooth by the judges.

When asked if he'd enjoyed his time on the show Phil Tufnell said: "Yes I've enjoyed myself immensely, thank you very much."

Katya said: "It was the most amazing experience, it was so amazing to be part of this family and to feel so welcomed and I have the best partner!"

On Saturday's show, while Bruce Forsyth recovered from the flu, Tess Daly took over Bruce's hosting duties and It takes Two's Claudia Winkleman stepped into Tess's shoes backstage.

The pair were joined by special guest star Ronnie Corbett who kept an eye on proceedings throughout the night.

The show also saw the cast of the hit musical The Jersey Boys perform Beggin', accompanied by a breakdance routine from Boy Blue Entertainment.

Strictly's professional dancers also performed a spectacular Showdance to One Night Only, from the film Dreamgirls, while Kristina Rihanoff and Brian Fortuna performed a special dance to She's Like The Wind from the film Dirty Dancing in memory of Patrick Swayze.

Next week, the remaining seven couples will dance to stay in the competition.

Phil Tufnell has spoken of his mixed emotions after being voted off 'Strictly Come Dancing' on Saturday night.

In an interview with The Sun's TV Biz, the 43-year-old cricket star said he "didn't know whether to laugh or cry" after he and professional partner Katya Virshilas were beaten by Ricky Groves and Erin Boag in the dance-off.

He said: "It's a bit of a shame not to be involved, but it's lovely to get back into the swing of normal life.

"You get completely absorbed by it. It is a bit of a relief, tinged with some sadness.

"I don't want to be a professional dancer, so I went in there to enjoy myself.

"I worked hard and learned to dance but I had 20 years of playing for my country and that was my career.

"I'm glad that I can put my feet up. But now my wife Dawn wants to learn how to ballroom dance."

Former cricketer Phil Tufnell has become the latest celebrity to get the boot from Strictly Come Dancing, after ending up in his first dance-off.

Tufnell and dance partner Katya Varshilas lost out to Ricky Groves and Erin Boag, after the EastEnder found himself in the dance off for the second week in a row.

And having seen off Craig Kelly last week, the judges once again chose to save Ricky - although it was close.

Craig Revel Horwood, admitting it was a "difficult decision" opted to save Ricky and Erin, while both Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli voted for Phil and Katya - leaving Len Goodman with the casting vote.

"It's a very tough call tonight," Goodman admitted, "because they have both danced beautifully together tonight. But I have to go for the one that gave the cleaner and most precise performance, and that couple is Ricky and Erin."

Afterwards Tufnell said he had "thoroughly enjoyed the experience" while Katya praised him. "I've had the best partner," she said.

Seven couples now remain in the competition, including Jade Johnson, who pulled out of the show at the last minute after sustaining a knee injury during dress rehearsal.

To have come this far only to fall short of a place in next week’s live special from the mecca of ballroom dancing . . . well, it would have left both of them devastated and facing the prospect of a lifetime of “what ifs?” and “might-have-beens”.

Strictly Come Dancing star Phil Tufnell is hoping to clean up on the dance floor after using a broom to help him maintain good posture this week.

The ex-England cricketer had been struggling to stand tall as he practised a tango for tonight’s show – until partner Katya Virshilas came up with the simple idea. Now the sportsman says he is confident he will impress the judges.

Former cricketer Phil Tufnell nearly had to miss Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing - after feeling a twinge in his knee again.

Phil, 43, is struggling to recover from keyhole surgery to fix a cartilage tear three weeks ago. And insiders said vigorous samba rehearsals with dance partner Katya Virshilas, 25, have caused him trouble.

Who would have thought twinkletoes Tufnell would prove to be a bit of a Fred Astaire?

The Question Of Sport team captain is proving a graceful addition to Strictly Come Dancing on a Saturday night. Even a knee op hasn't stopped the cricket favourite from taking to the dance floor in the Beeb's sequinned start to the weekend.

Strictly Come Dancing star Katya Virshilas has been sent hate tweets from cricketer Phil ­Tufnell’s female fans after she hurled a pen at him in a training bust-up.

The England and Middlesex legend revealed on his Twitter ­social networking page how his 25-year-old dance partner blew her top at him last week. They were trying to master the Viennese waltz but he complained he was being given the wrong music and was struggling with the steps.